Book 2, The Quest, Chapters 17-23 Summary

Basil and Jess conspire secretly to recover Martin's picture, thus shifting morale in both camps. They watch from the edge of Mossflower Woods as Cluny tyrannically drills his troops into shape and blames Darkclaw and Killconey for all of the trainees' mistakes. There is such a contrast with the good order inside the Abbey. As Cluny lashes out with his tail at incompetents, Basil appears and censures him for such bad form in an officer. Amazed, Cluny demands Basil's head but his entire mob cannot catch him. Watching, Basil bob, weave, and taunt, Jess giggles.

Cluny plays into Basil's hand by facing him one-on-one, using the war banner and his tail. Basil dodges both, only to trip in a pothole and goes down. As Cluny strikes but misses, Jess seizes Martin's picture and helps Basil limp into the woods...